Oxfam Scotland

What Oxfam Scotland does

Oxfam Scotland is the Scottish advocacy and campaigning arm of Oxfam GB (charity registration SC039042, also registered in England and Wales as 202918), itself a member of the international Oxfam confederation. The organization pursues a mission of fighting poverty and injustice through two interlocking functions: a Scotland-wide retail operation of 41 charity shops plus an online shop that sells donated second-hand goods, and a policy-advocacy function that campaigns on climate justice, tax reform, wealth inequality, care economy, and Scotland's role in international development and humanitarian response. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Oxfam Scotland works through coalition partnerships (Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Tax Justice Scotland, Scotland Demands Better, A Scotland that Cares, Scotland's International Development Alliance) and participates in the Disasters Emergency Committee alongside 14 other UK humanitarian charities.

The organization does not sell commercial products or services in the traditional sense; its revenue mechanics are threefold: (1) charity retail income from selling donated clothing, books, and bric-a-brac across physical shops and the Oxfam Online Shop, (2) public donations including emergency appeals, regular giving, and community fundraising, and (3) grants from governments and institutions such as the Scottish Government's Humanitarian Emergency Fund (£250,000 committed for the Venezuela earthquake response) and Climate Justice Fund. Operations are supported by a small core staff of 7 employees — Head Jamie Livingstone, Advocacy Adviser Katherine May, Media & Communications Adviser Rebecca Lozza, and volunteer digital capacity — supplemented by a large volunteer base across the retail network.

Oxfam Scotland's competitive positioning rests on the global Oxfam brand (operating since 1948), an established Scotland retail footprint, and access to coalition-driven advocacy channels. It targets two primary stakeholder groups: Scottish citizens engaged as donors, volunteers, and campaigners, and policymakers in the Scottish and UK governments. Operational technology is limited to standard digital channels (website, Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, WhatsApp) plus email and earned media; there is no proprietary technology stack or AI capability. The go-to-market motion is community-led — sustained engagement of supporters, coalition advocacy, and high-street retail presence rather than product-led growth.

Name

Oxfam Scotland

Legal name

Oxfam Scotland

Website

https://scotland.oxfam.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oxfam Scotland is the Scottish advocacy branch of Oxfam GB, campaigning on climate justice, tax reform, and inequality while operating 41 charity shops and an online shop across Scotland. It engages Scottish citizens as donors and volunteers and influences Scottish and UK government policy through coalition partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Nonprofit Charity Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Food Assistance & Nutrition Response (BPADADAE), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid
• Poverty alleviation
• Charity retail
• Climate justice advocacy
• Policy campaigning

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charity Retail Sales: Income generated from selling donated goods through a network of 41 charity shops across Scotland and the broader Oxfam Online Shop. Second-hand clothing, books, and other donated items are sold to raise funds for Oxfam's poverty alleviation work.
2. Public Donations and Fundraising: Direct donations from the public, including emergency appeals (e.g., DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal), regular giving, and community fundraising activities.
3. Charitable Grants: Funding from governments and institutions, including Scottish Government humanitarian funding (e.g., £250,000 for Venezuela earthquake response through Humanitarian Emergency Fund) and Climate Justice Fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oxfam Scotland fights poverty and injustice through three core activities: operating a network of 41 charity shops across Scotland that sell donated second-hand goods, running advocacy and policy campaigns on climate justice, tax reform, and inequality, and supporting humanitarian emergency response through the Disasters Emergency Committee. It also publishes research and policy briefings to influence Scottish and UK government policy.

Product overview

Oxfam Scotland operates as a charity organization with a unified mission to fight poverty and injustice, consisting of a network of 40+ charity shops across Scotland, an online retail platform, advocacy campaigns, and published research. The core offering centers on fundraising through second-hand retail (shops and online), combined with policy advocacy and campaigning on issues including climate justice, wealth inequality, and international humanitarian response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oxfam Scotland Charity Shops Network Network of 41 high street charity shops across Scotland selling donated second-hand goods including clothing, books, and bric-a-brac, with proceeds supporting Oxfam's poverty alleviation and humanitarian programmes.
• Oxfam Online Shop Online retail platform selling tens of thousands of second-hand items donated to Oxfam charity shops, including rare books, clothing, and collectibles. Proceeds support Oxfam's humanitarian work.
• Campaign with Us Advocacy and campaigning programme connecting supporters with opportunities to take action on issues including climate justice, tax fairness, private jet levies, and international solidarity.
• Publications and Policy Briefings Policy briefings, research reports, and campaign materials published by Oxfam Scotland covering topics such as climate justice, tax reform, inequality, and international development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Oxfam Scotland's rare 1968 edition of The Hobbit sold for £3,000, the highest-priced book ever sold by the Stirling branch online.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Stop Climate Chaos ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam Scotland is a proud member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), Scotland's climate coalition bringing together over 70 civil society organizations campaigning together on climate change. Jamie Livingstone serves as a Director of SCCS.
• Tax Justice ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam Scotland works together with Tax Justice Scotland campaigning for the Scottish Parliament to use its tax powers to help deliver a greener, fairer, more equal Scotland.
• Scotland Demands BettermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam Scotland supports Scotland Demands Better, a campaign bringing together people to demand political changes for a society where every household can thrive.
• A Scotland that CaresmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam Scotland supports A Scotland that Cares campaign advocating for Scotland to value and invest in care and all those who provide it, paid or unpaid.
• Scotland's International Development Alliance (SIDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIDA is the membership body in Scotland for everyone committed to creating a fairer world, free from poverty, injustice and environmental threats. Oxfam Scotland is an active member.
• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DEC brings together 15 of the UK's leading humanitarian charities including Oxfam, British Red Cross, and Save the Children to respond quickly to major overseas disasters through joint appeals.
• Museums & Galleries EdinburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Museum of Edinburgh received vintage Dundee dresses donated to Oxfam's Broughty Ferry shop, adding them to their permanent collection for preservation and public display.
• Global Solidarity Levies Task Force / Coalition for Solidarity Levies for Premium FlyerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam Scotland supports the international coalition (including France, Kenya, Spain) calling for levies on private jets and premium flyers to fund climate action and development, with Oxfam advocating for Scotland to join.
• Regions4 (Global Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland leads Regions4, a global network of regional governments working together on climate and biodiversity. Oxfam Scotland leverages this positioning for climate advocacy.
• Under2 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland serves as European co-chair of the Under2 Coalition, a worldwide group of states and regions committed to cutting emissions. Oxfam Scotland participates in related advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Trócaire: Irish international development NGO with comparable poverty alleviation mission. Comparable DEC-style coordination, similar advocacy on climate justice and tax fairness, though based in Ireland rather than Scotland.

Direct peers

• British Red Cross: DEC member agency and major UK humanitarian charity. Comparable humanitarian mission, disaster response operations, retail fundraising (charity shops), and advocacy on poverty and inequality in Scotland.
• Oxfam GB: Parent organization of Oxfam Scotland. Oxfam GB is the UK-wide charity running 500+ shops, fundraising, and humanitarian programs; directly comparable mission, brand, retail model, and advocacy approach, with Oxfam Scotland operating as its Scottish regional arm.
• Save the Children UK: Major UK international development and humanitarian NGO. Comparable mission in poverty alleviation and child/welfare advocacy, similar coalition membership, comparable UK government grant access, and overlapping donor base in Scotland.
• CAFOD: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, UK international development charity. Comparable poverty alleviation mission, DEC membership, advocacy on climate and inequality, and similar faith-rooted donor base.
• Tearfund: UK-based international development and disaster relief charity. Comparable poverty alleviation mission, similar DEC membership, and similar advocacy and donor engagement approach targeting UK Christians and the broader public.
• SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund): Scottish-based international development and humanitarian NGO. Directly comparable Scottish-focused poverty alleviation mission, similar DEC membership, similar SIDA membership, and similar small-team advocacy model.
• Christian Aid Scotland: Scotland-focused international development and poverty alleviation charity. Directly comparable mission, similar DEC membership, similar small Scottish staff structure, and overlapping donor and policy advocacy base.

Others

• Scotland's International Development Alliance (SIDA): Membership body for Scotland-based international development organizations. Oxfam Scotland is a member; SIDA serves as the coordinating infrastructure across these peer NGOs in Scotland, making it directly relevant as an ecosystem/coalition counterpart.
• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): Umbrella body of 15 UK humanitarian charities including Oxfam. Comparable disaster response fundraising model, directly relevant as Oxfam Scotland participates as a member agency and plays a leadership role in DEC's Scottish operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OxfamScotland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Oxfam
• Facebookfacebook.com/Oxfam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxfam-scotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/oxfam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oxfam Scotland